Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Tell What International Border This Is From a Map Image?

Sameena Mughal

Image: hockeymom4 / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Borders change over time. A variety of factors must be considered when deciding what border is what. How those borders are marked depends on the countries and the relationships they have which each other. Those designations can be subtle or distinct.

In Europe, it's difficult to tell where one country ends and another country begins. In the area where Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia meet, there is nothing but a triangular table with surrounding benches and potted hedges to mark where these countries intersect. In Asia, where mainland China and Macau meet, a visitor can clearly tell between the countries. The road along the border goes in a formation that looks like a figure eight. This is because the drivers in these countries drive on different sides of the road, and the way this road is constructed lets you see which of the two countries it is.

International borders have a different look and feel to them depending on where you go in the world. They may even change over time as history has shown. New countries may form or change their names entirely. Dust off your geography books, look at the images we've put together, and see how well you know the countries of the world! Enjoy!

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Do you recognize this Eastern European border marked by two fish passing?

Belarus, Russia

Poland, Ukraine

Latvia, Lithuania

Prague, Slovakia

The border between Poland and Ukraine is one of the most heavily crossed in the European Union. This is mostly from Ukrainian citizens conducting business or traveling.

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Can you name this T crossing of three large South American countries?

Peru, Colombia, Venezuela

Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname

Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay

Chile, Ecuador, Peru

The meeting of the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay forms what's known as a Triple Frontier. While there are many that exist across the globe, this one is unique because it was made by the joining of the Parana and Iguazu rivers.

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Do you know these two South Asian countries with a difficult relationship?

India, Pakistan

Nepal, China

Burma, India

Iran, Afghanistan

India and Pakistan were actually one country until 1947 when the British enacted Partition. Since then, the two countries have had various battles and almost went to war in 2019.

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One of the countries spans two continents. Can you recognize its border?

Lithuania, Latvia

Poland, Lithuania

Estonia, Latvia

Russia, Belarus

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Belarus became an independent nation. The two countries have had friendly relations, even giving each other's citizens access to employment, health care and education.

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Can you tell us the names of these two countries that share the Black Sea?

Romania, Serbia

Greece, Albania

Bulgaria, Turkey

Macedonia, Greece

Although ruled by the Ottoman Turks for five centuries, Bulgaria became independent of Turkey in the 18th century. Recently, the first-ever ferry between the two countries was formed in an effort to increase tourism in the Black Sea.

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These two countries have red and yellow in their flags and a "friendship bridge" on their border. Can you name them?

Laos, Thailand

Vietnam, China

Thailand, Burma

Cambodia, Laos

Vietnam and China have shared a long history. After wars, conquests and independence, in recent history, the two countries have started to improve their relations with one another.

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One country is famous for food, and the other for cars. Which two are they?

France, Germany

Belgium, Netherlands

Spain, France

Switzerland, Austria

Although France and Germany have two distinct cultures, they meet in the middle at the city on the border, Strasbourg. In this city, a tourist can find the oldest French Christmas market and Germany's Black Forest.

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These two countries are where Europe and Africa meet. What are their names?

Morocco, Algeria

France, Spain

Algeria, Libya

Spain, Morocco

It's hard to imagine that one could travel from Africa to Europe in one day, but at the Spain and Morocco border, it can be done. Travelers can take one of four ferries that travel at least a dozen times a day between the two countries (and continents).

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These three northwestern South American countries have similar-looking flags. What are they?

Venezuela, Brazil, Peru

Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay

Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela

Guyana, Suriname, Brazil

There is a reason Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela have yellow, blue, and red in their flags in the same order. They were all once part of a republic that no longer exists called Gran Colombia.

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Do you recognize this southern neighbor of the U.S. and the Central American country with which it shares a border?

El Salvador, Honduras

Mexico, Guatemala

Nicaragua, Costa Rica

Guatemala, Belize

Mexico and Guatemala share a Mayan cultural connection and history. Both of these countries became colonized by Spain. They also won their independence from the European country in the same year, 1831.

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These two countries, one of which is more neutral than the other, take up a large part of a peninsula in the Middle East. What are their names?

Oman, Saudi Arabia

Iraq, Jordan

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

Syria, Iraq

With relations between countries in the Middle East being up and down, Oman is more of a Switzerland of the Middle East. The country acts as a sort of bridge between its neighbor, Saudi Arabia, and other nations.

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These two Middle Eastern giants were at war in the '80s. Can you name them?

Syria, Turkey

Turkey, Iran

Jordan, Syria

Iran, Iraq

Two of the largest countries in the Middle East went to war when Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein, made a move on Iran in 1980. The United Nations helped negotiate a cease-fire in 1980, and the two countries are now allies.

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Do you recognize these smallish countries in the northern part of the European continent?

Liechtenstein, Switzerland

Belgium, The Netherlands

Switzerland, France

France, Belgium

In the early 1800s, Belgium became a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. After a few short years of Dutch rule, Belgians started a revolution that resulted in Belgium becoming an independent nation. The two countries now have close ties.

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Mount Kilimanjaro is in one country and you can see its summit from the other. Which countries are they?

Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mozambique, Malawi

Kenya, Tanzania

Malawi, Mozambique

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the tallest mountains in the world and definitely the tallest mountain on the African continent. Although it sits in Tanzania, the summit, Uhuru Point, can be seen from Nairobi on a clear day.

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The borders of these two countries bring together old southern Europe with new Europe. What are their names?

Bosnia, Serbia

Austria, Slovakia

Croatia, Bosnia

Italy, Slovenia

Italy and Slovenia are two independent nations, and there are checks at their borders. But as members of the European Union, citizens traveling between the two countries can freely bring in personal goods.

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One of these "neutral" countries accidentally invaded the other in 2007. Do you remember which two?

Switzerland, Liechtenstein

Germany, Czech Republic

Liechtenstein, Austria

Hungary, Austria

In March of 2007, troops from the Swiss army lost their way and went into Liechtenstein. The authorities of the smaller invaded country were not alarmed because the Swiss army wasn't carrying ammunition.

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One of these countries has refugees traveling to the other. Can you tell us their names?

Armenia, Azerbaijan

Syria, Jordan

Lebanon, Israel

Turkey, Syria

Jordan has more than 30,000 refugees from Syria staying in a camp on its border. Relations have been tense in recent history, but the reopening of border crossings has eased things a bit.

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As the song says, you can spend "one night" in a city in this country. The other country has a new name. Do you recognize their border?

Cambodia, Thailand

Laos, Vietnam

Thailand, Myanmar

Malaysia, Indonesia

To enter Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, a tourist with a visa has four options by land from Thailand. For one, a traveler can take a covered pick-up truck and walk across a bridge into Myanmar. And one night in Bangkok, Thailand, and the world is your oyster, at least according to the popular song from the stage play, "Chess."

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Travel to the bottom of Africa, and you can run into these two countries that were once one. Do you know them?

Gabon, Angola

Malawi, Zambia

Kenya, Tanzania

South Africa, Namibia

At one time, Namibia was a German colony known as Southwest Africa. In the early 20th century, it was taken over by South Africa until it became an independent nation in 1990.

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What are these two countries with a difficult past called?

Serbia, Albania

Hungary, Croatia

Macedonia, Greece

Ukraine, Moldova

Serbia and Albania have had decades of difficulty with Serbian Nationalists citing its roots in the 14th century. Earlier this year, an attempt by Albania to have the border more open met with criticism by a Serbian official.

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Can you name the two countries that make up the island of Hispaniola?

Honduras, Nicaragua

Haiti, Dominican Republic

Costa Rica, Panama

Belize, Mexico

The separation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is distinct. One side, lush greenery with thick hedges and grass greets the eye, which is the Dominican Republic. On the other, the area which is Haiti is dry with only spots of green.

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Do you recognize the borders of these countries where Eastern Europe and Western Europe meet?

Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary

Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece

Germany, Poland, Czech Republic

Ukraine, Belarus, Russia

The borders of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic meet at the Lusatian Neisse River and form a tripoint. After decades of inaccessibility due to the Cold War, the people of these countries can now access the tripoint.

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Can you tell us the names of two of the biggest countries in the United Kingdom?

Scotland, England

France, Belgium

Wales, England

Ireland, Scotland

Besides a border, Scotland and England have shared monarchs and their parliaments. Still, they've had tensions which have led to referendums for independence, both of which have failed.

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Do you know your Scandanavian boundaries?

Finland, Sweden, Norway

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia

Portugal, Spain, France

Where Finland, Sweden and Norway meet is marked by a concrete, pyramid-like structure measuring about 150 square feet that is a tourist attraction of sorts. It even has a snowmobile trail named after a crown princess of Sweden.

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What are the names of these two powerhouses of East Asia?

Afghanistan, Tajikistan

Laos, Vietnam

Mongolia, China

Nepal, India

Mongolia officially gained independence from China in 1921. But it struggled to stay an independent nation because China still considered Mongolia to be part of the mainland. China only stopped including Mongolia on its maps in 2002.

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Do you know these two border countries of the Iberian Peninsula?

Morocco, Algeria

France, Spain

Luxembourg, Switzerland

Spain, Portugal

Spain and Portugal are the only two countries that make up the Iberian peninsula. Although they have similar climates, they have different languages, and Spain is five times bigger than its neighbor.

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One of these countries is named after a liberator. The other is the largest country in South America. Can you name them?

Paraguay, Argentina

Bolivia, Brazil

Argentina, Chile

Brazil, Uruguay

Of all the South American countries, Bolivia shares the largest border with Brazil. Because of this, they are trade partners and allies, cooperating to increase development of border areas.

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These two Nordic countries are known for windmills, Volvos and Saabs. What are their names?

Netherlands, Germany

Germany, Denmark

Latvia, Lithuania

Denmark, Sweden

Denmark is made up of around 400 islands and has many windmills and thatched cottages. Automakers Volvo and Saab started in Sweden. Both countries are part of the Schengen Area that agrees to have no border control for member nations.

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These two countries have a border fence between them called the "Hourglass." Can you identify them?

Iraq, Kuwait

Tunisia, Libya

Egypt, Israel

Qatar, United Arab Emirates

Israel created a border-fence with Egypt in 2013 that the Israeli Defense Ministry called the "Hourglass." The fence is equipped with radars and cameras that alert Israel Defense Forces of unusual activity.

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Do you know these two Southeast Asian countries that were once colonized by the French?

China, Vietnam

Bangladesh, Myanmar

Laos, Cambodia

Myanmar, Thailand

Laos and Cambodia were once French colonies. Cambodia was under French rule in the late 19th century into the mid 20th century, and Laos was ruled by the French at about the same time.

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These are the biggest and the smallest country in the United Kingdom. What are their names?

England, Wales

Ireland, Scotland

Denmark, Germany

None of these

Wales is the smallest country in the United Kingdom, and England is the biggest. They are two of four countries that make up the United Kingdom. The other two are Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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These two countries are currently involved in a territorial dispute. Can you name them?

Costa Rica, Panama

Nicaragua, Costa Rica

El Salvador, Honduras

Belize, Guatemala

The territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala has been going on since 1821. Since then, Guatemala has claimed most or all of Belize as theirs. The case will soon make its way to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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These two countries mark the joining of North and South America. Which ones are they?

Colombia, Ecuador

Guatemala, Honduras

Panama, Colombia

Honduras, Nicaragua

Panama was part of Colombia after the ending of a nation called Gran Colombia in 1831. In 1903, the U.S. government helped Panamanian rebels to achieve independence.

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Can you name these two West African nations just beneath Algeria?

Senegal, Guinea

Sierra Leone, Liberia

Mauritania, Mali

Niger, Nigeria

Modern-day Mauritania was part of what was once known as The Kingdom of Mali. It was known for its wealth and power from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Today, the two countries share an open road border.

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Two of the smallest countries of South America share a border. What are their names?

Ecuador, Peru

Guyana, Suriname

Venezuela, Colombia

Suriname, Brazil

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America. Its neighbor to the east, Suriname, speaks Spanish. Their dispute over off-shore waters in 2007 was resolved by The Hague.

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Do you know the name of these two countries that have similar sounding capital names?

Hungary, Romania

Croatia, Bosnia

Serbia, Macedonia

Slovenia, Croatia

The capital of Hungary is Budapest, and the capital of Romania is Bucharest. Bucharest is nicknamed "Little Paris," and Budapest is considered by some to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

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What are these two countries called that recently experienced Cyclone Idai?

Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Namibia, Botswana

Angola, Zambia

Botswana, South Africa

In March of 2019, heavy rains and floods from Cyclone Idai affected Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Winds reached over 100 mph and affected "hundreds of thousands" in its wake, according to the United Nations.

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The southernmost countries of South America are named what?

Peru. Bolivia

Chile, Argentina

Paraguay, Brazil

Suriname, French Guiana

Chile and Argentina can get cold despite being part of a continent with rain forests. Parts of Chile can even get colder than 0 degrees Celsius. The two countries also have the distinction of sharing the world's third-longest international border.

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What are the names of these neighbors who speak Persian?

Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan

Syria, Iraq

Iran, Afghanistan

Jordan, Iraq

Afghanistan and Iran are two of four countries in the world whose people speak Persian or, as some call it, Farsi. The other two are Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, although fewer people speak it in these two countries.

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What are these most easterly countries of Africa called?

Sudan, Egypt

Nigeria, Niger

Uganda, Kenya

Ethiopia, Somalia

Although internationally Somalia has been recognized, recently Ethiopia didn't recognize its neighbor on a map. A government agency of Ethiopia erased it from a map on its website but later apologized.

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